The executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association wrote a letter to all players and agents on Tuesday night. Don Fehr said the offer "still represents reductions in player salaries."

As talks resumed Tuesday in Toronto between the league and the NHLPA, Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the offer, which is crafted for - if nothing else - a quick response from the head of the players' association, Donald Fehr.

"It was done," Bettman said, "in the spirit of getting a deal done."

Fehr told reporters that the proposal is for six years.

"Our hope," he said, "after we review this is that there will be a feeling on the players' side that this will be a proposal from which we can negotiate and try and reach a conclusion."

The NHLPA is expected to resume negotiations with the NHL on Thursday.

The NHL locked out its players on Sept. 15, and the regular season was scheduled to begin on Oct. 11. A Nov. 2 start date would extend the season well into June, but would preserve some of the marquee events, such as the Jan. 1 Winter Classic in Michigan.